Electrostrictive effect element and the process of manufacturing the same

Abstract

An internal electrode is printed on one surface of each electrostrictive ceramic green sheet by the screen printing. Two such electrostrictive ceramic green sheets each with an internal electrode layer are laid the electrostrictive ceramic layer of one on the internal electrode layer of the other and rolled together, and then sintered. Subsequently lead wires are soldered to the exposed portions of the corresponding internal electrodes. In virtue of this, small-size, low-voltage driven, highly reliable electrostrictive effect elements can be obtained, and the manufacture of them is very facilitated with the effect of remarkably reducing manufacture cost. In addition the electrostrictive effect element according to the present invention has the capability of radial expansion and contraction about the central axis of the rolled structure and thereby can be applied to new use out of the scope of the prior art.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electrostrictive effect element comprising: a first electrostrictive effect ceramic sheet with a first conductor layer on one surface thereof, and a second electrostrictive effect ceramic sheet with a second conductor layer on one surface thereof, said first and second electrostrictive effect elements being laid one on the other and rolled together to electrically isolate said conductor layers from each other to form a rolled structure. 
     
     
       2. An electrostrictive effect element according to claim 1, further comprising first and second external leads connected to said first and second conductor layers, respectively, in places thereof near the central axis of said rolled structure. 
     
     
       3. A electrostrictive effect element according to claim 1, wherein said rolled structure has the configuration of a prism. 
     
     
       4. An electrostrictive effect element according to claim 1, wherein said roller structure has the configuration of a column. 
     
     
       5. A process of manufacturing an electrostrictive effect element comprising: a step of making a first electrostrictive ceramic green sheet with a first conductor layer on one surface thereof and a second electrostrictive effect ceramic green sheet with a second conductor layer on one surface thereof; a step of laying said first and second electrostrictive ceramic green sheet one on the other and rolling together into such a rolled structure that said first and second conductor layers are placed away from contact with each other; and a step of sintering said roller material.